The Double-Chapter 485 - 152: Going to the Banquet

Jiang Youyao running away was something no one had anticipated. Just yesterday during the day, Jiang Youyao was still around, but when someone went to check this morning, she was gone, which made it clear that Jiang Youyao must have left the mansion last night when there was no one around.

Madam Jiang the Elder was so angry she nearly fainted and immediately had Zhenzhu bring the two maids from Yaoguang Mansion for questioning. When Jin Hua and Yinhua were brought to Night Wind Hall, both were pale with fear, obviously aware that a serious incident had occurred. Madam Jiang the Elder looked at them and said coldly, "Speak."

Jin Hua hesitated, her loyalty to Jiang Youyao unwavering for some reason even now, unwilling to betray Jiang Youyao, perhaps fearing Jiang Youyao would seek retribution later.

Madam Jiang the Elder sneered, "Someone, take these two maids out and sell them."

Jin Hua was immediately terrified. They were maids of the official’s daughter, and such maids either followed the young lady into marriage and were turned into concubines by the son-in-law or would marry and become a housekeeping lady; any fate was better than ending up in a brothel.

Before Jin Hua could speak, Yinhua knelt and said to Madam Jiang the Elder, "Old madam, I know where the third young lady has gone. She’s gone to the Ji family!"

Jin Hua was startled, why had Yinhua blurted it out? Little did she know that Yinhua had long harbored dissatisfaction with Jiang Youyao. Jiang Youyao was capricious, and would beat and scold her maids at the slightest displeasure. In the past, Ji Shuran had kept her in check, but now that Ji Shuran was dead, Jiang Youyao might have become even more irritable, often treating her and Jin Hua as less than human. It was pitiful that as Jiang Youyao’s personal maids, they could not speak ill of their mistress and had to endure inhumane treatment.

Now that Jiang Youyao was in trouble, Yinhua was unwilling to let her own life be ruined by the mistakes Jiang Youyao had made. Therefore, she was not as conflicted as Jin Hua and said, "Old madam, last night the young miss had us pack her gold and jewelry. We also distracted the gatekeepers and drugged their tea with laxatives. Taking advantage of their absence, the third young lady escaped the mansion." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Lady Lu asked in wonder, "Escape? Why would she need to escape the mansion? If she wanted to go to the Ji family, she could have just gone on her own."

Stammering, Yinhua replied, "The third young lady believed that the mansion had confined her, and she would never be allowed to leave again, let alone return to the Ji family. The third young lady said she must return to the Ji family. We did not dare anger our master, for our servitude contracts are still in the hands of our master... Besides, we thought that by reporting this to the old madam early this morning, even if the third young lady went to the Ji family, the old madam could still send people to look for her."

Madam Jiang the Elder’s face became extremely grim. The implication of Yinhua’s words was that Jiang Youyao harbored discontent towards the Jiang Family, which is why she sought comfort at the Ji family. Such a young lady was simply... foolish!

Lady Lu also chimed in, "Youyao is indeed too willful. How could she think the family would confine her for life? It’s just that right now is a sensitive time. If she went out, it would not be good. It would be better for her to stay in the mansion and avoid the spotlight for the time being. How could she misinterpret kindness for an insult and be so ungrateful?"

"Enough! You, say less!" Madam Jiang the Elder shouted, and Lady Lu immediately fell silent. Madam Jiang the Elder continued, "Find the eldest and have him go to the Ji family to retrieve her immediately! What will people think when the Jiang family’s daughter is living at the Ji family’s house?"

The Jiang Family had already become the talk of Yanjing City because of Ji Shuran’s incident, and if Jiang Youyao went to the Ji family, what would others think? Although Madam Jiang the Elder vehemently labeled Jiang Youyao’s actions as stupid, ultimately, Youyao had grown up before her eyes, and their grandparent-grandchild relationship was not hollow. Jiang Youyao’s behavior, seen through the eyes of others, would only confirm the rumors that Jiang Youyao truly was the illicit child of Ji Shuran and another man, and Jiang Youyao would indeed be ruined!

Jiang Li sighed inwardly upon seeing Madam Jiang the Elder’s reaction. Despite all of Jiang Youyao’s mistakes, Madam Jiang the Elder still had not completely lost hope in her. What was once an excellent identity had been squandered by this foolish woman to a point of no return. It just showed that one’s path had to be walked by oneself in the end.

Jiang Jingrui casually remarked, "Why bother looking for someone, let her go back to the Ji family if she wants to! Our house will have one less mouth to feed, how good is that."

Lady Lu quickly pulled Jiang Jingrui aside. Although she agreed in her heart, Madam Jiang the Elder clearly did not intend to let Jiang Youyao stay at the Ji family indefinitely. With the old madam already very angry, Jiang Jingrui’s comment was like pouring oil on the fire and was not a good thing at all.